Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins

2014-02-01T21:52:51Z

97.81.70.51: /* Techniques */

{{Era|DYL|Embers|Assassins}}
{{Faction infobox
|image = Insignia 2.png
|hideo =
|founder =
|leader = [[Mentor]]
|headquarters = [[Beijing]]
|locations = Eastern [[China]]
|related = [[Assassins]]
|religion =
|formed = Prior to 210 BCE
|reorganised =
|collapsed = 1524
|notable = [[Wei Yu]]<br>[[Fang Xiaoru]]<br>[[Li Tong]]<br>[[Shao Jun]]}}
The '''Chinese Assassins''' were the Brotherhood of [[Assassins]] in [[China]], one of the few Brotherhoods to have existed for more than a thousand years.

Primarily focusing on dealing with several [[Templars|Templar]]-backed Chinese Emperors, the Chinese Assassins have often been in difficult positions, as the Chinese Templars held the majority of power in China on numerous occasions.

In 1524, the Chinese Assassins were almost completely rooted out through a ruthless purge by the Emperor [[Jiajing]], with the remaining Assassins fleeing China altogether, seeking support from other branches in the Assassin Order.

==History==
===Assassination of Qin Shi Huang===
During the 3rd century BCE, Emperor [[Qin Shi Huang]], supported by the Templars,<ref name="Encyclopedia">''[[Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia]]''</ref> unified China under his banner and became the first Emperor, starting the Qin Dynasty.

However, in 210 BCE, the Assassin [[Wei Yu]] killed the tyrant Emperor with a spear, making Wei Yu one of the most renowned members of the Order.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

===Yongle's purge===
[[File:ChineseAssassinsEscape.png|thumb|left|250px|Li Tong and an apprentice escaping the purge]]
By the 15th century, the Chinese Assassins were led by the teacher [[Fang Xiaoru]]. In 1402, the Imperial throne was usurped by [[Yongle]], supported by the Templars. Under Yongle's rule, thousands of Assassins were rounded up and executed, including Fang Xiaoru. However, a young female Assassin named [[Li Tong]] and an [[Apprentices|Assassin apprentice]] were able to escape the [[1402 Chinese Assassin purge|purge]] with an [[Apples of Eden|Apple of Eden]]. This caused Li to devote herself to protecting the Apple and keeping it out of Yongle's hands.<ref name="DYL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations - Discover Your Legacy|Assassin's Creed: Discover Your Legacy]]''</ref>

In 1424, while Yongle attempted to suppress a rebellion near the {{Wiki|Gobi Desert}}, Li Tong slipped into Yongle's tent and killed the Emperor.<ref name="DYL"/>

===Fall of the Brotherhood===
In 1521, after the death of [[Zhengde|Emperor Zhengde]], and while the administration was preoccupied with looking for an heir, the Assassins infiltrated the Imperial Palace to rescue the Emperor's concubines. In the process, they recruited a young woman named [[Shao Jun]] into the Brotherhood, though many concubines had to be left behind.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>

In 1524, the new Emperor, Emperor Jiajing, again aided by the Templars, [[1524 Chinese Assassin purge|nearly destroyed]] the Assassin Order in China, determined to eliminate all groups who opposed him.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>

[[File:ACE-V 10.png|thumb|250px|Shao Jun and Ezio Auditore, before her departure]]
The remaining Assassins traveled West in groups, with Shao Jun and her [[Mentor]] heading for [[Italy]]. In [[Venice]], they were intercepted by Jiajing's men, and her Mentor was killed. Eventually continuing on to [[Florence]], Shao Jun met [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], the retired leader of the [[Italian Assassins]] and a former Mentor in the Assassin Order. Despite her desire to learn from him, Ezio, then 65 years old, was unwilling to help Jun at first.<ref name="ACE">''[[Assassin's Creed: Embers]]''</ref>

After discovering the fate of the Chinese Assassins, Ezio decided to support her, eventually fighting off more of Jiajing's assailants in Ezio's home. With Ezio's knowledge and a secret box to only be used in times of dire need, Shao Jun started to make her way back to China, determined to rebuild the Order's presence there.<ref name="ACE"/>

==Techniques==
The techniques of the Chinese Assassins differed greatly from those of the other Assassin branches. Most notably, the Chinese Assassins did not use [[Hidden Blade]]s;<ref name="ACE"/> the signature weapon of the Assassins in [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]] and [[United States|Colonial America]].<ref name="AC2"/>

Instead, the Chinese Assassins wore bracers equipped with needles, in place of Hidden Blades. Being located close to the hands, the Assassins could quickly throw multiple needles in a row.<ref name="ACE"/>

[[File:ACE-V 9.png|thumb|250px|Shao Jun using her concealed blade]]
Additionally, the Chinese Assassins wore concealed blades in their footwear, which came to good use with their Chinese fighting techniques, that involved the use of the leg and foot more often.<ref name="ACE"/>

The Chinese Assassins would eventually use the [[rope darts|rope dart]] weapon created by Shao Jun after her travels to Europe, for which she became renowned.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

==Appearance==
The Assassins' robes did not always meet normal Assassin customs. On many occasions, Assassins wore ordinary Chinese clothing, making them hardly recognizable as Assassins.<ref name="AC2"/><ref name="DYL"/>

It was only during the height of the [[Renaissance]] period in Europe that the Chinese Assassins ordinarily wore hoods; despite this, the Assassins did not necessarily wear white, as Shao Jun wore black Assassin robes.<ref name="ACE"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Assassin branches]]

Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins